The genitive: possession and genitive articles
Der Genitiv: Possession und Genitivartikel
The expresses possession and answers 'wessen?'; masculine/neuter nouns add -s or -es.
Structure
des/eines + Nomen + -s/-es (maskulin/neutrum); der/einer (feminin/Plural)
des/eines + noun + -s/-es (masculine/neuter); der/einer (feminine/plural)
Details
- Part of Speech
- Case
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
The genitive is the of possession and answers the question wessen? ("whose?"). It typically follows the it modifies.
Genitive articles:
| Gender | definite | indefinite |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | des | eines |
| neuter | des | eines |
| feminine | der | einer |
| der | - |
For masculine and neuter nouns, the itself also adds -s or -es (longer/one-syllable nouns prefer -es): des Mannes, des Autos, des Kindes. Feminine and nouns add nothing.
Examples:
- Das ist das Auto des Lehrers. - That is the teacher's car.
- Die Farbe der Wand gefällt mir. - I like the colour of the wall.
- Das ist die Tasche meiner Schwester. - That is my sister's bag.
In casual speech, people often replace the with von + dative (das Auto von dem Lehrer), but the is standard in writing and exams.
Common mistakes: Forgetting the -s/-es on masculine/neuter nouns (das Auto des Lehrer → Lehrers). Adding -s to feminine nouns (wrong).
About The genitive: possession and genitive articles
The expresses possession and answers 'wessen?'; masculine/neuter nouns add -s or -es.
The is des/eines (m/n) or der/einer (f/pl). Masculine and neuter nouns add -s or -es. It typically follows the it modifies.
Der drückt Besitz aus und antwortet auf die Frage 'wessen?'.
Caution
Masculine and neuter nouns take -s/-es in the genitive ('des Mannes'), feminine and plural do not. In speech people often use 'von + Dativ' instead.